5 things you need to know after Cowboys' loss to Bears

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G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant argues with receivers coach Jimmy Robinson after a Tony Romo pass to Bryant was picked off for a Chicago Bears touchdown during the first half of their game Monday, October 1, 2012 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)

In theory, the Cowboys’ receivers and backs are superior to the skill position players of the Chicago Bears. Of course, in theory, Cowboys Stadium provides the home team a significant advantage and, in theory, it was great to have the “real refs” back in action this weekend.

The Bears and their thousands of navy-and-orange-clad fans in the crowd of 90,080 made sure a whole bunch of theories went bust in a 34-18 victory over the Cowboys Monday night.

The Cowboys do not play again until Oct. 14 in Baltimore, and I am not unaware of where the attention will be focused. Tony Romo was badly outplayed by Jay Cutler (usually that’s saying something) in throwing five interceptions.

Compounding the problems for Jason Garrett’s offense was the total absence of a running game — not exactly a new critique when this team faces a defense as solid as the Bears’.

But in this case it wasn’t for lack of running plays being called. DeMarco Murray gained 11 yards on his first run but finished with just 24 yards on 11 carries. The Cowboys didn’t abandon the run until it was clear that Murray was as likely to lose yards as he was to gain any.

And while you’re trying to figure out if that last-minute touchdown pass by Kyle Orton suggests he’s the answer (hint: he isn’t), keep this in mind. Unless Romo is going to dump every pass to Jason Witten, he’s going to have to count on wide receivers producing more big plays than they do big mistakes.

Romo was bad, and I’m not trying to suggest otherwise. But if he’s ever to be good on a steady basis, he needs a few helping hands.

It’s difficult to win playing one-dimensional football. Ask Drew Brees. If the 2-2 Cowboys don’t make a stronger commitment to the run, an already long season is going to get longer.

$50 million corner, first-round pick get burned

ARLINGTON — In one sudden moment inside the Cowboys’ locker room, cornerback Brandon Carr released his frustration with one wide-mouthed scream.

Since the Cowboys signed Carr to a $50 million contract in the off-season, he has been all smiles. But this was a different side of Carr. He wasn’t happy with his performance or that of the Cowboys’ secondary in a blowout loss to the Bears.

Chicago standout Brandon Marshall caught seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown against Carr. It was the first time this season that the Cowboys’ revamped secondary had allowed a 100-yard receiver. And they did it against Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who had struggled with his consistency in the first three games.

“He got some plays on me. I don’t even know what to say,” Carr said, before pausing and screaming toward the ceiling of the locker room. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep my poise. It’s tough.”

Carr wasn’t alone in getting beat. Morris Claiborne, the Cowboys’ No. 6 overall pick from LSU, bit on a double-move by Chicago receiver Devin Hester early in the third quarter and gave up a 34-yard touchdown pass.

“I played horrible,” Claiborne said. “Any time you give up something like that, on top of that, it’s something you’ve been working on every day in practice, you go out and give it up. It’s hard. I got to make that play. I got to be on top of that route.”

The Cowboys’ top-ranked defense finally showed some leaks Monday night against the Bears. Of course, in the second quarter they were playing with five projected starters not in the game.

What was Dez Bryant thinking?

One of the key plays in the Cowboys’ 34-18 loss to the Chicago Bears was a 25-yard Charles Tillman interception return for a touchdown.

The play stands out because it gave the Bears a 10-0 lead and showcased some apparent miscommunication between Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

Bryant ran deep and Romo threw short. Tillman didn’t stay with Bryant, he waited and was in perfect position to make the grab near the visiting sideline and jog in for the game’s first touchdown.

Said Rick Reilly on ESPN: "Romo is taking it really hard. I've never seen him look this bad. ... Dez Bryant had more drops than Ludens. He said, I have no excuse and then he proceeded to make three excuses. The one on the first pick, which was totally his fault, he said it was a great play by the DB. There was nobody around! I could have made that pick! Is it Romo or all these people around him?"

Bryant, who said there was no excuse for his three dropped passes, was one of the last players to exit the locker room, still sitting in his game pants after the majority of the team had already showered and departed.

Bryant finished with eight receptions for 105 yards, his second 100-yard receiving game of his professional career.

In the fourth quarter, Bryant drew boos from the crowd when he found himself wide open behind Tillman for what would have been at least a 30-yard gain. The ball sailed right through his gloved hands.

Playoff hopes dim as schedule gets brutal

Chicago’s 34-18 victory Monday night sends the Cowboys into the bye week with a 2-2 record. It marks the fourth consecutive season the team finishes the quarter-mark at or below .500.

Here’s the significance. Since the NFL went to its current format in 1990, teams that have gotten off to a 3-1 start have gone on to make the playoffs 64.8 percent of the time.

That likelihood drops to 35.3 percent among teams that split the first four games.

It was imperative that the Cowboys enter the bye with a bit of a cushion because of what lies ahead. Four of the team’s next five games are on the road, beginning in Baltimore on Oct. 14. The one game at Cowboys Stadium is sandwiched in the middle against the New York Giants, a team that has never lost at this venue.

The Cowboys need Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff

The Cowboys went into this game without three starters in their defensive front seven — nose tackle Jay Ratliff, defensive end Kenyon Coleman and outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. Insider linebacker Bruce Carter hurt his left hip in the first series and didn’t return until the start of the third quarter.

Their absence was noticeable, especially in the run game, where the Bears gashed the Cowboys for 56 yards in the first two quarters.

But the defense overall held its own. The Cowboys trailed 10-7 at the half, but Chicago’s only touchdown came courtesy of a 25-yard interception return by cornerback Charles Tillman.

Spencer hadn’t missed a game since the 2008 season. The outside linebacker was ruled inactive with a strained pectoral muscle, an injury he suffered late in Dallas’ victory over Tampa Bay on Sept. 23.

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